Sunday, December 23, 2012

“For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord. And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger. And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.” Luke 2:11-14

Thursday, December 13, 2012

Christmas hath a darknessBrighter than the blazing noon,Christmas hath a chillnessWarmer than the heat of June,Christmas hath a beautyLovelier than the world can show:For Christmas bringeth Jesus,Brought for us so low.

Earth, strike up your music,Birds that sing and bells that ring;Heaven hath answring musicFor all Angels soon to sing:Earth, put on your whitestBridal robe of spotless snow:For Christmas bringeth Jesus,Brought for us so low.

Wednesday, December 12, 2012

As our family was singing Christmas carols tonight, I felt a stirring within my

heart thinking about the birth of the Savior!

It made me look into a little background info on one of the hymns we sang....

O Little Town of Bethlehem

Rector Phillips Brooks (1835-1903) of Philadelphia, wrote the words to O Little Town of Bethlehem in 1868, following a pilgrimage to the Holy Land. He was inspired by the view of Bethlehem from the hills of Palestine especially at night time hence the lyrics of O Little Town of Bethlehem. His church organist Lewis Redner (1831-1908) wrote the melody to O Little Town of Bethlehem. Red­ner was Brooks’ or­gan­ist at Ho­ly Trin­i­ty Epis­co­pal Church in Phil­a­del­phia, Penn­syl­van­ia. The tune came to him on Christ­mas Eve, and was first sung the next day.

O little town of Bethlehem, how still we see thee lie!Above thy deep and dreamless sleep the silent stars go by.Yet in thy dark streets shineth the everlasting Light;The hopes and fears of all the years are met in thee tonight.

For Christ is born of Mary, and gathered all above,While mortals sleep, the angels keep their watch of wondering love.O morning stars together, proclaim the holy birth,And praises sing to God the King, and peace to men on earth!

How silently, how silently, the wondrous Gift is giv’n;So God imparts to human hearts the blessings of His Heav’n.No ear may hear His coming, but in this world of sin,Where meek souls will receive Him still, the dear Christ enters in.

Where children pure and happy pray to the blessèd Child,Where misery cries out to Thee, Son of the mother mild;Where charity stands watching and faith holds wide the door,The dark night wakes, the glory breaks, and Christmas comes once more.

O holy Child of Bethlehem, descend to us, we pray;Cast out our sin, and enter in, be born in us today.We hear the Christmas angels the great glad tidings tell;O come to us, abide with us, our Lord Emmanuel!

Write down the names of who you need to buy for-allot amounts for each

Use a small expandable folder for your holiday money (think dollar store)

(Label each section with the person's name-and put the money for that person in it. Only take this with you when you shop-no credit cards. When the money is gone--you stop!) Oh-and put the receipts back in filed by person in case you have a return

Monday, December 10, 2012

I received this devotion from my sweet friend Vicki Ponce (she sends this daily to my mailbox!). The sage advice in this devotion is a "must share"...

I have heard many such things; miserable comforters are you all. Shall windy words have an end? Or what provokes you that you answer? Job 16:2-3

Have you ever had a friend go through a hard time and you didn’t know how to comfort them? We might quote Romans 8:28, thinking that it will make them feel better, knowing that God will make this horrible situation out for his good. We can’t stomach not having words to say to someone who is hurting or confused. We want to try to explain why their situation is happening or give them words of comfort. We might even call them daily to see if their situation is improving. Job’s friends were the same way. The majority of the book of Job consists of his friends explaining to him why his children have died, his livestock are all gone, and he has sores all over his body. We would generally agree with most of the reasons his friends give for his hurting. But, they aren’t the reasons Job has actually encountered these hardships! Their words of comfort were really words of discomfort. Sometimes God will use us to give a Biblical answer to the suffering a person is enduring, but there will still be instances when we have no idea what to say. Instead of spouting off religiously oriented phrases in these situations, we should listen, listen, and listen some more.

Dear Lord: Please put the right words in my mouth so that in their discomfort they can find some comfort from YOU. And Lord, help me to listen first to who is struggling and then listen to you for the response, if there even is one. AMEN

Many of you know that I have had recent difficult trials of my own. I can tell you from my experience that Vicki's words are true. I have learned what is not helpful for sure....preaching at a person who is hurting (no matter how good your intentions) is not helpful, nor is telling them how they ought to be dealing with their trial. You not only don't fully know what they are going through-you don't know what they have gone through prior to this either.

But, the ones who listen to you, and who gently remind you that you are on their heart and mind, and they are praying--that is soothing to the soul and a blessing. I want to be that kind of a friend.

Thank you so much Vicki-a lady who has had many, many trials of her own-for this wonderful devotion. I pray God uses this in our lives as we try to bless and minister to our friends who face trials of their own.

Sunday, October 21, 2012

The command to “encourage” others is found throughout the Bible.In I Thessalonians chapter 5 Paul gives many specific examples of how we can encourage others.

I Thessalonians 5:11

Build each other up.

“Wherefore comfort yourselves together, and edify one another, even as also ye do.”

Christians are to encourage one another.A word of encouragement offered at the right moment can be the difference between, finishing well and collapsing along the way.Look around you.Be sensitive to others’ need for encouragement, and offer supportive words or actions.

I Thessalonians 5:12

Respect leaders.

“And we beseech you, brethren, to know them which labor among you, and are over you in the Lord and admonish you.”

Look for ways to encourage and cooperate with your pastor.

I Thessalonians 5:13a

Hold leaders in highest regard.

“And to esteem them very highly in love for their work’s sake, and be at peace among yourselves.”

Express your appreciation, tell them how you have been helped by their leadership and teaching, and thank them for their ministry in your life.If you say nothing, how will they know where you stand?Remember, they need and deserve your support and love.

I Thessalonians 5:13b

Live in Peace

Search for ways to get along with others.

I Thessalonians 5:14

Encourage the timid

“Now we exhort you, brethren, warn them that are unruly, comfort the feebleminded, support the weak, be patient toward all men.”

Encourage those who are timid by reminding them of God’s promises.

Help the weak

Support those who are weak by supporting them and praying for them

.

Be patient

Think of a situation that tries your patience and plan ahead of time how you can stay calm.

I Thessalonians 5:15

Resist revenge

“See that none render evil for evil unto any man; but ever follow that which is good, both among yourselves and to all men.”

Instead of planning to get even with those who mistreat you, do good to them.

Be joyful

I Thessalonians 5:16

“Rejoice evermore.”

When we do God’s will we will find it easier to be joyful and thankful.Remembering that even in the midst of turmoil, God is in control.

Pray continually

I Thessalonians 5:17

“Pray without ceasing.”

We cannot spend all our time on our knees, but it is possible to have a prayerful attitude at all times.This attitude is built upon acknowledging our dependence on God, realizing His presence within us, and determining to obey Him fully.Then we will find it natural to pray frequent, spontaneous, short prayers.A prayerful attitude is not a substitute for regular times of prayer but should be an outgrowth of those times.

Give thanks

I Thessalonians 5:18

“In everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.”

Paul was not teaching that we should thank God for everything that happens to us, but in everything.Evil does not come from God, so we should not thank Him for it.But when evil strikes, we can still be thankful for God’s presence and for the good that He will accomplish through the situation.

Make a list of all the gifts God has given you, giving thanks to God for each one.

Count on God’s constant help

I Thessalonians 5:23

“And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.”

Realize that Christian life is to be lived not in our own strength but through God’s power.

I pray that I can be an encouragment to others!

This was sent to me by my sweet and dear friend Marie. (This could have been written about her!) Thanks Marie!